Dudhwa National Park

Dudhwa
National Park , one of the largest and thickest forests of India and also
one of the most precious reserves of Indian Wildlife. This tiger reserve is
located in the Terai bordering Nepal . The park covers 498.29 sq. km. and has
fine sal forests and extensive grasslands. The tall coarse grass, swampy depressions
and lakes characterise the wetlands of the Park. The grasslands are also ideal
terrain for the Indian one horned rhinoceros. In 1984, a number of rhinos were
translocated from Assam and Nepal , in an attempt to extend their habitats and
to exclude the possibility of wiping out entire populations through disease
and epidemics. Besides massive grassland and swamps, the Park boasts of one
of the finest qualities of Sal (Shorea robusta) forests in India. Some of these
trees are more than 150 years old and over 70 feet tall. This forest area was
first notified as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1965, and later as a National Park
in 1977.

This forest was a safe haven for both poachers and timber smugglers. This precious
forest land was a life-support system for the locals. Dudhwa National Park
faced intense opposition from foresters, game lovers and local inhabitants.
This was a turning point in the history of Dudhwa National Park , when Billy
Arjun Singh who stepped in to see Dudhwa through its fate. Committed to the
point of being obsessive, this man stood firmly in favour of the jungle and
convinced the erstwhile Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to notify the forest as
a National Park. Dudhwa National Park had 50 tigers, 41 elephants and 76 bears
apart from five species of deer, more than 400 species of birds, a few crocodiles,
and some other species of mammals and reptiles in 1977. The grasslands are also
ideal terrain for the Indian one horned rhinoceros. Other inhabitants include
the sloth bear, jackal, wild pig and the lesser cats - the fishing cat, leopard
cat, jungle cat and civet. Dudhwa also has an abundance of birds. Its marshes
are home to a range of water-birds both local and migratory.

Season ( Dudhwa National Park )
Mid November-mid June, the best period being February-April.

Common Birds:Dudhwa is renown for its extensive variety of large birds that range
from different species of Owls , Storks , Vultures , Eagles and Hawks. Sadly
the Damoiselle Cranes and White Ibis no longer visit the park.

Distance from Delhi : 420kmDistance from Lucknow : 260kmTotal area : 490sq kmBest time to visit : October to April